Remember that feeling of pure, unadulterated shock? The kind that jolts you awake and makes you question reality itself? That’s what MLB fans experienced in 2023 when Blake Snell, the firebrand southpaw with a laid-back demeanor, defied expectations and snatched the Cy Young Award from the jaws of more established contenders in the National League.

But beneath the calm exterior and the blistering fastball, Snell revealed a secret weapon: one of his deceptively dominant pitches.

From Underdog to Ace: The Change-Up’s Redemption Arc

“I knew it (his curveball) was good,” Blake Snell admitted in a candid interview with MLB.com, “but the change-up was the difference maker for me. That’s kind of what made everything, uh, as good as it was.”

Imagine a maestro conducting an orchestra, each instrument playing its part in creating a harmonious melody. That’s how Snell wielded his pitches in 2023. The curveball, his signature weapon, remained a deceptive maestro, keeping hitters guessing. But the change-up, once a supporting player, stepped into the spotlight, adding a whole new dimension to his repertoire.

“The numbers were unbelievable,” the interviewer marveled, referring to the change-up’s effectiveness. Snell, ever the humble champion, downplayed it, but the stats spoke volumes. Opponents swung and missed at it a whopping 32% of the time, a testament to its newfound potency. But the 2023 Cy Young wasn’t just about pitches and stats.

It was about the fire within. When asked about his motivation, Blake Snell revealed a surprising source: his brothers. “Yeah, no, it’s just who they are, and I think it’s just keeping me humble,” he confessed, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “That’s it. That’s family.”

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This competitive spirit, fueled by family, translated into his signature calm on the mound. “I’ve just been in a lot of situations before,” Snell explained, his voice radiating quiet confidence. “So I just take it for what it is, and it’s just who I am, so I don’t really take anything too serious.”

Blake Snell’s journey isn’t over, though. As he embarks on a new chapter, with free agency casting a shadow, he remains focused on the future.

A Legacy in the Making: Beyond the Cy Young

“I don’t think about it,” he says, referring to his place among the Cy Young legends. “I got a long, a long career left, uh, you know, if I could stay healthy and do everything the right way and keep getting better like I plan on doing, so I won’t look at it now, but hopefully, later on, I’ll be able to take it for what it is.”

Read More: Why Is 2X Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Still a Free Agent, Despite a Desperate Pitching Market?

The 2023 season was a masterclass in pitching, both on and off the field. Blake Snell, the underdog with a change-up up his sleeve, defied expectations and etched his name in baseball history. And while the future remains unwritten, it can be said for certain that this Cy Young is just the beginning of a captivating story, one where the maestro’s baton is firmly in his grasp, ready to conduct another symphony of success.